Why....ski?
You don't go skiing just for the skiing. You go for the glorious mountain scenery, the amazing air, the chance to really get away from it all and the apres-ski, of course.
Why Ski? - Adrenalin
Get exhilarated by the steep, tough runs. Discover that you love the feeling of skiing through deep powder. Maybe you'll turn out to be a whiz at mogul fields - bumpy runs that look like a giant mole has been at work. You could be a schuss monster, relishing any chance to just point your skis downhill and go hell for leather.
The pure excitement of speed on hot skis burning through soft snow is unforgettable. You won't even be thinking about how you're going to stop at the bottom. Maybe you will carve a few turns as you swing round the curves of a giant piste, perhaps you'll shrink to a racing tuck with your skis flattened, and your fists held out in front of you.
You take a curve in the piste and then see the slope fall away from you, you accelerate beyond your speed of control and hang on for dear life as you bounce over the ridges of the lower slope. Franz Klammer eat your heart out!
It isn't until you reach the bottom that you realise how hard your body has been working. Your back aches from the tightness of the tuck, your thigh muscles burn and you're gasping for breath. But at least it is the sharply cold and fresh air of the mountains. Look back at the mountain you raced down and admire the awesome power of nature.
Why Ski? - Sensuality
Imagine cruising down one of the wide, well-groomed 'motorway' pistes. Taking in the mountain air - enjoying the heat of the sun and the cool air in your face. Stop at one of the beautiful mountain cafes for a hot chocolate or a gluwein.
Whatever your inclination, mastering the art of skiing is deeply satisfying for the soul - and good for your body too!
Like the first time you manage to ski down a whole run without stopping, arriving at the bottom with a glowing face and burning thighs. When you glance up a slope that looks unbelievably steep from below and realise that you have just come down it. Being suspended in a chair lift travelling slowly above the slopes, looking out over a vast bowl of glittering snow. Skiing down in the silence of an empty run, lined with snow covered pine tree, and looking back to see only your tracks.
From the first time you slide inexpertly down a nursery slope to the moment when you tackle your first black run, you'll never feel bored or complacent. The learning curve is continuous and while you are in the mountains, the world outside ceases to exist. It's the perfect way to switch off from everyday concerns. You're too busy concentrating on what's ahead of you!
Don't forget the unbeatable experiences beyond the skiing, too. How about sipping beer and listening to a live R&B; band on a restaurant terrace, surrounded by snow capped mountain peaks, under the bluest sky you have ever seen? Looking out across a mountain range that fills the whole horizon and watching the clouds drift by beneath you? Or the strange experience of sitting in a deckchair getting a sun tan at -4oC?
Perhaps best of all, the apres-ski brings out the best in people. A wonderful group spirit descends every evening over dinner, a din and hubbub of ruddy faces and cheery spirits. The food tastes divine and you find in yourself a hunger that you never thought possible. Sample the local dishes including raclette for the glories of mountain cheese and the obligatory clove cocktail from the Alps called Gluwein.
Tell us what got you interested in skiing.
